Saxophone Set-Up, Care, and Cleaning

Set your case down on a flat surface, and make sure the latches on the case open upwards. You don’t want to open the case upside down! Some very old cases may be the opposite – the latches open toward the bottom of the case. In this instance, a sticker placed on the top of the case will ensure you never open it upside down.

Gently push and rotate the head joint onto the body of the flute. It attaches to the end that has no keys. If you look straight down your flute, the tone hole on the head joint should line up with the section between the keys and the rods on the body. Do not push the head joint all the way in, and be sure to grip the flute from its tubing and not the keys.

Gently attach the foot joint to the other end of the flute by pushing and rotating it into place. The keys on the foot joint should lay flat on the same plane as the keys on the body. Be sure to grip the parts from the solid tubing and not the keys.

Do not use any kind of oil or grease to attach the pieces. If they aren’t fitting correctly, you are either attaching the piece to the wrong end of the body, or something is damaged and should be seen by an instrument technician. You can also try cleaning the tenon (the part of the body inserted into the joints) with rubbing alcohol and a soft, lint-free cloth.

Always clean out your instrument with a lint-free cleaning swab when you are done playing it. These can be purchased online or at any music store. Attach the swab to a cleaning rod and slowly run it through the body, foot joint, and head joint.

Every so often, the lip plate and embouchure hole can be disinfected with a cotton swab and some denatured, isopropyl alcohol.

Never submerge your flute or run it under water! If it needs a deep cleaning, take it to an instrument repair shop where they have a special method for cleaning instruments. Even the head joint, which may just look like a solid piece of metal, has glued-on pieces on the inside that will come loose if they get wet.

Never attempt to polish your instrument. If necessary, smudges can be removed with a lightly dampened cloth and some mild soap.

Your instrument is fragile, so be sure to hold it carefully and closely. It is very easy to bump the instrument against objects around you, including your body or chair. Denting your instrument could make it unplayable!

Ideally, a technician should check out your instrument once a year. They will check for air leakages, faulty pads, sticky keys, loose screws, and other issues. Most annual tune-ups cost around $70-$100.

Avoid exposing your instrument to large swings in temperature and climate. Don’t store it outside or in your car. Sudden changes in climate can effect the instrument’s tuning.